Road joint



Dec. 6, 1938. J H, JACQBSON 2,138,817

ROAD JOINT Filed Jan. 10, 1954 2 SheetS-Shet l Dec. 6, 1938. J. H. JACOBSON I ROAD JOINT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1934 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII;

IIIIIII REISSUED Patented Dec: 6, 1938- UNITED. STATES AUG 191941 PATEKT OFFICE ROAD JOINT Application January 10, 1934, Serial No. 706,081

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of transmitting road loads from an initially loaded slab or section of a roadway or the like to an adjacent slab or section.

The object of this invention is to provide means for transmitting road load crosswise or transversely of the slab sections and/or lon tudinally or in the line of travel of the roadway; and

To provide for transmitting road loads applied to one slab section to an adjacent slab .section through the agency of an element which may provide part of a joint and seal between the slab sections; and

To confine the free flexing or bending of the dowel bars embedded in the material of the roadway to the space between slab sections of the roadway and to prevent or reduce the bending or flexing of that portion of the bar which extends from that space into the slab section in order to thereby reduce disintegration of the material of the slab due to the action of the bars upon said material because of the road load applied to the bar; and j 5 To accomplish the last mentioned advantage through a means extending crosswise or longitudinally of said roadway and arranged at a face or an end of a slab; and

To provide means for forming a support for an end of a slab section and the employment of this means to assist in accomplishing the prevention of the disintegrating action between the dowel and the material of the slab due to road load applied to the bar; and

To provide means for forming a support for an end of a slab and a bond between the joint and slab, this means assisting to transmit road loads from one slab section to an adjacent section; and

tween the slab sections against the entrance of foreign material permanently allowing for the free and independent lateral movement of the slab sections occasioned by road load, moisture, 5 temperature change or subgrade displacement; this means accomplishing the above mentioned transmission of road loads from one slab section to another; and

In addition to sealing the space between said 50 roadway sections, it an object to employ the joint as a means of support for dowel bars employed in the roadway structure and thus limit the flexing of said bars and reduce'the crushin action of said bars on the slab and the resultant 55 coning of the material of the slab surrounding To provide means for sealing the space hethe bars due to the road load being applied to the bars.

The invention has these and other objects, all of which will be explained in detail and more readily understood when read in conjunction with 5 the accompanying drawings (two sheets) which illustrate various means and the method of accomplishing the invention, it being understood that other arrangements may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the appended 10 claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a joint embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through Fig. 1; 15

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the facing angles only, spaced apart but in their relative positions; and

Fig. 4 is a plan of the base of the joint, the top of the vertical angles being cut away and the 20 seal removed, to show the bearing on the subgrade and the transverse load distribution or beam action of the angles. e

Road building has passed through many phases in practice and design. The modern road 25 or highway of today is considered and dealt with as a structure, not just a ribbon of concrete. The new structures as now designed bring with them the elements of greater cost and greater permanency; preservation of investment; a def- 3o inite salvage value; and the economic and safe handling of a greatly increased volume, weight and speed of traflic. Appearance is also as definitely an objective of highway design as are utility and safety. 35

A broad characteristic of the modern highway is the adoption of concrete for concrete pavement, and/or for the bases of brick and bituminous surfaces, and the provision of means providing for load distribution across the slab (transversely of the road) at this point; and the specific inclusion of means for permanently sealing this joint against the entrance of foreign matter allowing of the free and independent movement of the slab occasioned by load, moisture, temperature change or subgrade displacement. 1

My invention relates design procedure as particularly applied to roadways involving the employment of artificially created joints and the 5 use of separate slab sections.

These joints are points of weakness in the pavement, and consequently practically all pavement failures occur at transverse joints, because 1 as a moving wheel load approaches a transverse joint it concentrates the load at the abutting edges of the divided slab and develops critical stresses in a pavement that otherwise would be strong enough to support the load without failure.

I am aware that mechanical joints have been produced and are now in use. However, joint failures still occur due to lack of adequate load transmission, due to improper design of the joint and/or lack of bearing or support of the dowel bars, the latter of which results in channeling or coning of the paving material of the slab because of the improper connection of the slab sections comprising the roadway.

It is the general practice to use dowel bars for purposes of load transmission as well as alignment, but the selection of bars as to length, cross section and spacing has been largely a matter of judgment; and

Usually in computing the length of dowels, the dowels are figured for equal capacity in bending and bearing, without any allowance for contact with, or support from, any transverse steel. Increasing the length of a dowel beyond certain limits, increases its load carrying capacity in hearing, but reduces its capacity in bending.

It has been found with respect to load distribution and when a support is provided for the dowel bar at the top and bottom thereof, that this support increases the load carrying capacity of the dowel in bearing, particularly if the support is placed near the edge of the slab where the bearing pressure is greatest, this arrangement of support above and below the dowel bar being preferable because of reversal of load application under moving load.

The slab assumed to be subjected to the moving wheel load is herein referred to as the initially loaded slab, and the adjacent unloaded slab is defined as the opposite slab. Each slab edge abuttingthe transverse joint is denoted as the face ofthe slab.

A mechanical device for sealing the space between adjacent ends of the slab sections and providing means for accomplishing the distribution of road loads contemplates the utilization of a pair of angle members, designated l0 and II. The lateral flanges or feet of said angles are respectively designated l2 and I3, which feet engage the under side of said slab sections.

The vertical legs of the angles l0 and II, are spaced from each other to provide for movement of the angles l0 and H and thus compensate for the lateral movement of the slab sections. These angles 10 and H are in the present instance partially held in spaced relation to each other through the agency of flexible spacers M at or near the base thereof. joint formed by the angles Ill and H is closed by a metallic seal 15, having thelateral flanges l6 and I! which are adapted to be embedded in the aggregate forming the roadway. This last mentioned element is also provided with a longitudinal crimped portion or rib l8 to provide for the resultant compressive movement of the angle elements upon the expansion of the roadway sections. A bituminous cap or seal I9, is employed which forms a closure for the entire structure and is further utilized to assist in sealing the space between the respective roadway sections to prevent the infiltration of Water, dirt, etc., into the space between the slab sections. This bituminous member extends lengthwise of the joint and is temporarily secured to the joint through the agency of the binders 20, which are The upper end of the passed through keys 2|. The keys 2| extendthrough apertures provided in the respective vertical legs of the angles l0 and II. The vertical legs of the angles 10 and l I are further provided with a plurality of apertures for the reception of dowels 22 which are introduced to couple.

the ends of the respective slab sections to each other and transmit defined road loads from one slab section to another. Each of these dowels may be provided with a thimble 23 which will allow for movement of the dowels upon the lateral movement of the slab sections, and the dowels may be welded to alternate legs of the angles as shown at 30.

The load transmitting action resulting from the utilization of this structure causes material reduction in the flexing or bending of the dowel bars which thus reduces the channelling or coning of the concrete in the adjacent ends of the slab sections. It is also believed evident that the bending arm of these dowel bars is shortened and the bearing increased which also reduces channelling or coning of the material of the slab and which will further tend to confine the free action of the dowel bars to the space between the angles l0 and II. The lateral flanges or feet l2 and I 3 of the angles l0 and II also act to carry or distribute the load from the slabs to the vertical legs of the angles and thence to the dowel bars. The flanges or feet l2 and I3 and the vertical legs l0 and II of the angles further contribute to distribute the load transversely of the roadway, and in this manner will cause distribution of the load to the several dowel bars.

It will be noted that the sealing member I9 is formed to provide a downwardly facing, longitudinal channel 24, which tends to prevent extrusion of this material above the slab surfaces due to the lateral movement of the slab sections.

The specific structure illustrating the invention and comprising the two angular elements generally designated Ill and l l, the lower portion of each of which is formed to provide longitudinally spaced feet respectively designated l2 and i3, also has longitudinally spaced cut-out portions respectively designated 25 and 26. The cut-out portions of one foot are arranged opposite the foot of the other leg, and the foot pieces are designed to be arranged in the cut-out portions. In this manner the road load applied to the dowel bars 22 is transmitted from the leg ID to the leg ll, and/or from the leg I l to the leg Ill.

The metallic seal I5 employed is provided with lateral flanges I6 and H, which are formed as at 21 to cap the upper extremity of the walls respectively designated I0 and H, and is additionally formed to provide a bridge piece which extends across said walls. This bridge is provided with a longitudinal, centrally disposed rib l8, which will compensate for the movement of the walls It! and II as before described. One of the walls of the rib l8 also forms a portion of one wall of the channel 24, the latter being provided for the reception of a part 28 of the bituminous element l9, the latter being provided with a shoulder which limits the movement of the bituminous element or cap.

A conventional type of supporting stake 29 is shown for maintaining the joint in proper relation during the pouring of the roadway.

From the foregoing explanation of the structure involved it is believed evident that a new and .novel means is provided for transmitting road load as it is applied to one slab section and thence transferred to the other slab section through the in bearing, and thus limits and prevents to a degree, the free bending of the dowel within the slab section which will then prevent channelling or coning of the material of the roadway at the joint due to road loads applied to the dowel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent 1. An expansion joint for concrete roads and the like adapted to close the space between adjacent slab sections. and comprising the combination of a stool and a seal capping an edge thereof with means for transmitting the applied load from one section to the next adjoining, the stool consisting of a pair of spaced members each having a wall abutting the ends of their respective slab sections, and each having a plurality of iongitudinally spaced feet, the feet of one member being located in the space between the feet of the other member and said feet extending under and forming a bearing for the oppositely disposed member, and a member penetrating said slab sections and extending across the space between said sections and having bearing in each of said walls of the stool.

2. In a joint for concrete roads and the like adapted to seal the space intervening between ad; jacent slab sections, means for distributing the applied load transversely of the slab and also transmitting this load: from one slab section to the next adjoining, said load transfer means consisting of a pair of spaced angles having upstanding legs which abut the ends of their respective slab sections, the angles facing each other and alternately the foot of one being cut out at intervals so that the remaining foot section of the other extends'beyond and under the leg of theoppositely spaced angle and across the space in- .tervening between the slab sections and into functionally operative engagement with the underside of the oppositely disposed slab section, thereby providing a bearing for the leg of the opposite angle, and a plurality of dowel bars spaced across the joint and engaging the adjacent slab sections and extending across the space therebetween, said dowel bars being amxed to one leg of the opposite angle, whereby a portion of the applied load is carried by the dowel bar into the leg of each angle and distributed to the foot of each angle at more than two points.

3. In a joint for concrete roads and the like adapted to seal the space intervening between adjacent slab sections. means for distributing the applied load transversely of the slab and then transmitting the applied load from one slab section-to the next adjoining, said means consisting of a pair of facing angles extending substantially the length of the joint the upstanding legs of each angle abutting the ends of their respective slab sections, thelegs of each angle having a plurality of spaced feet extending therefrom toward the opposite, angle and across the space between the slab sections, the leg of each angle providing a bearing for the top of the foot of the oppositely spaced angle, and a dowel member engaging both slab sections and extending across the space therebetween, said dowel having a bearing in each of the upstanding legs of the facing'angles, said dowel member transmitting a portion of the applied load to the leg of each angle for distribution to the foot of the opposite angle and further providing means offering resistance to the rotation of the slab ends about the joint as an axis.

4. A hearing for dowel bars comprising a pair of spaced angles facing the ends of adjoining slab sections, the foot of each angle being cut out at intervals in staggered relation, the remaining foot sections alternately passing under and forming a bearing for the leg of the oppositely disposed angle, and a dowel 'bar spanning the space between the angles and having bearing in the leg of each facing angle, so that a portion of the applied load is distributed transversely of the slab on the'facing angle and then carried across the space intervening between the facing angles and distributed to the feet of the angles both at the heel and at a point intermediate the toe and heel thereof, thereby accomplishing the distribution of the load to the feet of the angles and across the space intervening between the spaced facing angles.

5. A bearing for dowel bars comprising a pair of spaced facing angles, the foot of each angle being cut out at intervals, the remaining foot sections passing under and forming a bearing for the leg of the oppositely disposed angle, and a dowel bar spanning the space between and having bearing in the leg of each facing angle, so that a portion of the applied load is distributed along the leg of the angle and then carried across the space intervening between the facing angles and distributed by the leg .of one angle to the feet of the opposed angle, the feet of each angle being reinforced against cantilever action by the leg of the opposing angle.

'6. In a joint for concrete roads and the like adapted toseal the space intervening between adjacent slab sections, means for distributing the applied load transversely of the slab and then transmitting the applied load from one slab section to the next adjoining, said means consisting of a pair of facing angles extending substantially the length of the joint the upstanding legs of each angle abutting the ends of their respective slab sections, a seal extending across the upper.

ends of said upstanding legs, the legs of each angle having a plurality of spaced feet extending therefrom toward the opposite angle and across the space between the slab sections, the leg of each angle providing a bearing for the top of the foot of the oppositely spaced angle, and a dowel engaging both slab sections and extending across the space therebetween, said dowel having a bearing in each of the upstanding legs of the facing angles, said dowel transmitting a portion of the applied load to the leg of each angle for distribution to the foot of the opposite angle and providing means ofiering resistance to the rotation of the slab ends about the joint as an axis.

7. In a joint for concrete roads and the like adapted to seal the space intervening between adjacent slabsections, means for distributing the applied load transversely of the slab and then transmitting the applied load from one slab secof each angle providing a bearing for the top of 116 the foot of the opDOs'itelyspaced angle, and a dowel engaging both slab sections and extending across the space therebetween, said dowel having a .bearing in each of the upstanding legs of the facing angles, said dowel transmitting a portion of the applied load to the leg of each angle for adapted to seal the space intervening between adjacent slab sections, means for distributing the applied load transversely of the slab and then transmitting the applied load from one slab section to the next adjoining, said means consisting of a pair of facing angles extending substantially the length of the joint the upstanding legs of each angle abutting the ends of their respective slab sections, a flexible metallic seal extending across the upper ends-of said upstanding legs, said seal having means respectively providing members for anchoring said seal to the respective slab sections, and a bituminous filler arranged above said seal, the legs of each angle having a plurality of spaced ieet extending therefrom toward the opposite angle and across the space between the slab sections, the leg of each angle providing a bearing for the top of the foot of the oppositely spaced angle, and a dowel engaging both slab sections and extending across the space therebetween, said dowel having a bearing in each of the upstanding legs of the facing angles, said dowel transmitting a portion of the applied load to the leg of each angle for distribution to the foot of the opposite angle and further providing means ofiering resistance to the rotation of the slab ends about the joint as an axis.

9. In a joint for concrete: roads and the like adapted to seal the space intervening between adjacent slab sections, means for distributing the applied load transversely of the slab and then transmitting the applied load from one slab section to the next adjoining, said means consisting of a pair of facing angles extending substantially the length of the joint the upstanding legs of each angle abutting the ends of their respective slab sections, and yieldable means located between said upstanding legs to maintain said legs in spaced relation to each other during the pouring of the concrete slabs, the legs of each angle having a plurality of spaced ieetextending therefrom toward the opposite angle and. across the space between the slab sections, the leg of each angle providing a bearing for the top of the foot of the oppositely spaced angle, and a member engaging both slab sections and extending across the space therebetween, said member having a bearing in each of the upstanding legs of the facing angles, said member transmitting a portion of the applied load to the foot of the opposite angle and further providing means offering resistance to the rotation of the slab endsabout the joint as an axis.

10. In a joint for concrete roads and the like adapted to seal the space intervening between adjacent slab sections, means for distributing the applied loadtransversely of the slab and then transmitting the applied load from one slab sec-' tion to the next adjoining, said means consisting of a pair of facing angles extending substantially the length of the joint the upstanding legs of each angle abutting the ends of their respective slab sections, and a plurality of yieldable means located adjacent to both the upper and lower extremities of said upstanding legs to maintain said legs in spaced relation to each other during the pouring of the concrete slabs, the legs of each angle having a plurality of spaced feet extending therefrom toward the opposite angle and across the space between the slab sections, the leg of each angle providing a bearing for the top of the foot of the oppositely spaced angle, and a member engaging both slab sections and extending 'across the space therebetween, said member therefrom and adapted to project into and move within an adjacent concrete section, during contraction and expansion of said section.

12. In a joint of the character described for concrete structures, a -stiff structural girder, dowels or anchor elements rigidly and permanently secured thereto and projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to project into and move within an adjacent concrete section, during contraction and expansion of said section, and laterally compressible means co-operating with said girder and disposed in a space between the proximate faces of adjacent concrete sections.

13. In a joint of the character described for concrete structures, a stiff structural girder, dowels or anchor elements rigidly and permanently secured thereto and projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to project into and move within an adjacent concrete section, during contraction and expansion of said section, and laterally compressible means co-operating with said girder, disposed within and closing a space between the proximate faces of adjacent concrete sections.

14. In a joint of the character described for concrete structures, a stiff structural girder, anchoring dowels rigidly and permanently secured thereto and projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to project into and move within and adjacent concrete section during contraction and expansion, said sections being spaced, and an in- 'verted flexible substantially U shaped element within and adjacent the top of the space between said sections. a

15. In a joint of the character described for concrete structures, a stiff structural girder, anchoring dowels rigidly and permanently secured thereto and projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to project into and move within an adjacent concrete section during contraction and expansion, said sections being spaced, and a flexible substantially U shaped element within and adjacent the bottom of the space between said sections.

16. In a joint of the character described for concrete structures, a stiif structural girder, anchoring dowels rigidly and permanently secured thereto and projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to project into and move within an adjacent concrete section during contraction and expansion, said sections being spaced, a flexible element extending across the top of the space between said sections to form a closure therefor, and a flexible element forming a closure for the bottom of said space.

JAMES H. JACOBSON. 

